Top 10 Prospects In The South Florida Collegiate Baseball League

The Pompano Beach Clippers took down the Delray Beach Lightning to win the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League title. This marked the Clippers’ second consecutive title and third of six possible.

The series went down to a deciding game, as the teams split the first two games of the series. However, Pompano Beach made sure there was no debate after the finale.

The top prospect of the league, Andy Rivera, earned the win, tossing 5.1 innings of two-hit ball. He fanned nine across his scoreless outing. C.J. Alexander went 2-for-3 in the contest and was named MVP of the championship series.

1. Andy Rivera, RHP, Pompano Beach (Jr., Middle Tennessee State)

A twitchy junior, Rivera is one of the most intriguing players the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League has to offer. He has a long, live arm action that produces a fastball that ranges in the low-to-mid 90s. His fastball has been described as heavy as he releases from a near sidearm 3/4 slot, creating wicked run and occasional sink. He complements the heater with a slurvey breaking ball in the 79-82 mph range. Rivera gets considerable depth on the pitch and can showcase plus sharpness, too. His third offering is a changeup that fades toward his arm side, sitting in the mid-to-upper 80s. It’s not common to see a pitcher running it up in the mid 90’s from his arm slot, making Rivera a person of interest for many clubs next spring.

2. C.J. Alexander, 3B/OF, Pompano Beach (R-Fr., State College of Florida)

As an athletic third baseman with potential for plus power, Alexander may have the highest ceiling of the group. At the plate, Alexander utilizes a fluid lefthanded swing to spray the ball around the power alleys. He hasn’t tapped into his power potential just yet, but his projectable frame—6-foot-5, 210 pounds—has considerable upside as he matures at the plate. He has shown average skills at third thus far and has the arm strength to move to left field if he isn’t able to stick in the dirt.

3. Connor Rowland, OF, Palm Beach (Jr., Palm Beach Atlantic)

A toolsy outfielder from Florida, Rowland possesses a great deal of potential. Coaches in the SFCBL described Rowland as a plus runner—6.6-6.7-second 60-yard run times—with a plus arm. He has great instincts on the basepaths, taking the extra base at the opportune moment. He showcased plus defensive instincts in the outfield, taking excellent routes on fly balls. Scouts were impressed with his batting practice focus and his in-game plate appearances. Rowland has a good approach and is constantly improving his swing. His projectable 6-foot-4, 195-pound frame gives him the potential to add considerable power. He has made consistent strides across all facets of his game with a mature work ethic. As he continues to fill out, a corner outfield spot seems likely, but his athleticism and speed give him a chance to stay in center.

4. Luis Guerrero, SS, Coral Springs (Fr., Miami-Dade College)

Guerrero is a toolsy freshman, and what he lacks in size he makes up for with explosive tools. He has quiet hands with the bat and an explosive lower half, enabling him to drive the ball well. He packs a lot of strength into his frame. Guerrero runs well and was given a plus rating by scouts who saw him this summer. He is a smooth fielder possessing soft hands and great leadership in the middle of the diamond. He has the arm strength to play anywhere on the left side of the infield, with center field also being a possibility down the road.

5. Nik Constantakos, RHP, Florida (So., Charleston Southern)

A compact arm action with a lot of life, Constantakos has a lot of potential. He consistently repeats his delivery and works primarily off of his fastball, which sits in the low 90s. He has no problem keeps hitters off balance, thanks to a wicked 75-78 mph curveball. The sharp 11-5 break makes it a tough pitch to barrel, and it occasionally buckles knees with its depth. A draft-eligible sophomore next season, Constantakos is one worth keeping on the radar.

6. Jordan Spicer, RHP, Boca Raton (Jr., Central Florida)

A righty with a projectable frame, Spicer gets a lot of outs with his heavy, sinking fastball. He delivers it in the 90-94 mph range from a near over-the-top arm slot. He repeats his longer, clean arm circle consistently, allowing him to fill up the strike zone. He complements the fastball with two breaking balls: one that has a traditional curving action, and the other a hard slider. The curveball is his go-to secondary, using it early in the count and as an out-pitch. It has average break and is a nice pitch to keep hitters off balance. His slider needs some work but is not used often; it’s primarily used to keep hitters honest.

7. Hayden Marze, RHP/1B, Boca Raton (R-Jr., Mississippi State)

An injury held him out last spring, but Marze is back and ready to compete. He has potential at both first base and as a pitcher, though his ceiling as a pitcher seems to be higher. This summer, Marze sat 92-94 mph with his fastball, creating heavy sink from a high 3/4 arm slot with downward plane. His slider comes in at 85-87 mph and is a legitimate out-pitch. He also throws a changeup in the upper 80s with some run.

At the plate, Marze can spray the ball around the diamond. He generates a lot of power from his projectable frame. First base is his likely landing spot if he is drafted as a position player, but he does have some arm strength and athleticism.

8. Francisco Urbaez, INF/OF, West Boca (So., Chipola Junior College)

The annual powerhouse, Chipola College, looks to have another prospect with Urbaez. He is a utility guy that can play virtually any position on the diamond—he played all infield spots besides first base this summer in the SFCBL. He’s quick on his feet and has a fast transfer on double plays, making second base a potential landing spot. He has above-average range and makes plays others can’t because of his advanced footwork and smooth hands. Offensively, he has a quick, compact swing that produces sneaky power in the gaps. Scouts and coaches alike say Urbaez is a gritty player, with instincts that could lead him to the next level.

9. Cole Haring, OF, Pompano Beach (Jr., Baylor)

Haring is blazing on the basepaths and has the ability to change the game any time he gets on. He uses his speed well in the outfield as well, taking above-average routes and tracking down balls to make tough plays. He has a great baseball IQ, on both the bases and on the field, with enough pop at the plate to keep the defense honest, although his compact, clean swing is geared for line drives. Haring’s defense and speed are carrying tools, but he must continue to grow at the plate as he matures.

10. David Vazquez, SS, Boca Raton (Fr., North Carolina State)

The youngest member of the SFCBL, Vazquez has a lot of room to grow but has unteachable skills in the infield and is a natural shortstop. He has a certain smooth flow on defense, gliding through grounders and seamlessly making plays. His athleticism allows for a move defensively, but shortstop is his longterm profile. At the plate, Vazquez has a line-drive swing that produces base hits at this point, but the prospect for power will come as he fills out. His athleticism allows him to consistently find the barrel, which will be beneficial for him as he moves to the next level.